Swan was chosen arising from some legendary account where the people of Sibu were grateful when a famine ended with the appearance of a flock of swans flying through the sky above them.

On another account, the Swan was chosen when the early Chinese immigrants identified the local Melanaus as ‘Go’ people due to their staple food of sa’go’. Coincidently, ‘Go’ resembles the pronunciation of swan in Hokkien and hence the Chinese named Rajang River as Swan River(‘Go’ River) from early days and even nowadays in some of the Chinese literature.

As the fable of the ugly duckling turning into an elegant white swan, the swan symbolizes a new identity, spirit, solidarity and unity which would inspire the people to work hand-in-hand towards meeting its goal in becoming a city in the near future.